Galloway MRTFire crews are tackling a large wildfire spread across multiple parts of Galloway Forest Park, which is due to reach as far north as East Ayrshire.
Police said emergency services have worked through the night to deal with a large wildfire in Galloway after it was reported around 11.50pm on Friday.
The blaze is affecting Merrick Hill, Ben Yellary, Glen Trool and Loch Dee near Newton Stewart.
Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said it was initially called around 4.20pm on Thursday to reports of a large area of grass on fire north of Loch Dee.
Galloway MRTThree appliances remain at the scene on Saturday, with crews having a presence since the original call out.
Helicopters have also been deployed to fight the blaze.
In an update on Saturday evening, police said the fire had spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday.
As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.
A Police Scotland statement read: “Emergency services continue to deal with a large wildfire in Galloway, which was reported around 11.50pm on Friday, April 4.
“The blaze is affecting Merrick Hill, Ben Yellary, Glen Trool and Loch Dee areas.
“We are asking people to avoid the area.”
Wildfire warning – crews tackle large blazes across Scotland
It comes amid a very high to extreme warning in place across the whole country for risk of wildfire.
Firefighters tackled a wildfire on a hill in Aberdeen on Friday evening.
Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the Gramps in the Torry area of the city around 8.55pm.
Six appliances were sent to the scene with crews leaving in the early hours of Saturday.
Police Scotland said the fire was extinguished by crews and there were no reports of any injuries.
The same very high to extreme warning was in place across Scotland last week with crews fighting fires in the Stirling and East Dunbartonshire areas.
Flames of two metres high were extinguished at Gartur Moss, Port of Menteith, when the alarm was raised at 12.27pm on Wednesday.
Five fire engines were at the scene on Thursday morning tackling the blaze which the fire service described as half a kilometre long.
Emergency services were also called to the scene of a wildfire in the Kilpatrick Hills near Milngavie at around 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Group commander Garry Douglas, an SFRS tactical adviser, said: “During any period of heightened risk, fires can ignite easily, spread very quickly, and burn with high intensity.
“At this time of year in early spring, we typically have a large volume of dead, bone-dry vegetation across large areas of countryside. This essentially acts as a fuel for fire.
“There are currently vast areas that are tinder dry and vulnerable, which provides all the ingredients for fire to take hold and spread.
“Human behaviour is the cause of most wildfires in Scotland, so it is imperative we all act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors, especially over the coming days of predicted sunshine.
“By following some simple but key advice, we can significantly reduce the risk of wildfire occurring.”
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